EU Funding for Tourism Developments in Máriapócs and Nyírbátor 8 April 2010
Thermal bath in Nyírbátor handed over.
The priority project bearing the title “Faith and Health – cooperation between Máriapócs and Nyírbátor for developing religious tourism” costing a total of nearly 3.4 billion HUF to complete will be implemented with the help of EU funding amounting to 2.4 billion HUF within the framework of NHDP. This project, implemented in several phases, is aimed at carrying out complex religious and health tourism developments in these two settlements and preserving the region’s cultural, architectural and historic heritage. The thermal bath in Nyírbátor, which was constructed within the framework of this project, was handed over on 7 April.
In spite of how there are currently dozens of historical monuments and attractions in Nyírbátor and Máriapócs, the majority of these are in an extremely rundown state and lack suitable infrastructure. The number of tourists visiting these sites has declined to such an extent that they are beginning to lose their appeal as religious and tourist destinations. It is not possible to, for example, organise major cultural or religious events on account of the lack of availability of service facilities. A thermal pool has nevertheless been operating in Nyírbátor for several decades; however, it is not as popular as it could be due to the outdated services it offers. The way in which tourists only spend one or two days in these settlements is also a problem.
The aim of the project called Faith and Health implemented within the framework of the New Hungary Development Plan (NHDP) involves renewing historical and religious monuments by the end of 2010 and improving the region’s tourism appeal as an outcome of these developments to attract an even higher number of tourists to these two disadvantaged settlements.
An office, cloakroom, lockers and toilets, as well as the ticket desk have been set up in the reception area of the thermal bath and swimming pool that has just been handed over. A learner swimming pool, children’s pool, 2 spa pools (with massage jets) and two 6-person Jacuzzis have been set up in the thermal section of the building. Besides the above, 2 saunas, an infra-sauna and 2 plunge pools have also been set up in the building, alongside a massage and an aromatherapy room, salt chamber, steam chamber and lounge area.
The medical section with three mud therapy lounges, mixed therapy rooms, physiotherapy rooms, three massage rooms, 1 tub with effervescence, 1 hydro-massage tub, thermal pool, lounge area and showers has been accommodated in the western wing of the building.
A sundeck has been created on the top floor of the building. Altogether 240 parking spaces, out of which 16 will be reserved for handicapped visitors, were also built in front of the two buildings on account of how a higher number of visitors are expected to use this facility as an outcome of these developments.